Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2012: Anthony Rose on South African Chardonnay

Anthony Rose of UK newspaper The Independent

“South African Chardonnay has undergone a major improvement,” says  Anthony Rose, UK wine writer, chair of the Australian panel at the Decanter World Wine Awards and one of the three international judges at this year’s Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show.

“When I first visited South Africa in 1992 as a judge involved in drawing up the SAA Wine List Selection, it made news when I said it wasn’t impossible for South Africa to make £10-a-bottle Chardonnay. Now it would be joke to suggest otherwise”.

“You don’t yet have the same regional diversity as Australia – think Adelaide Hills compared to Margaret River compared to Yarra Valley – but you’ve moved beyond merely good fruit and there are some cleverly crafted wines. I think we may even be witnessing the start of regionality”.

Results of the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show will be live on this blog late in the afternoon of Wednesday 30 May.